In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama says he still wants a comprehensive package that deals with the debt. But he says that takes time. Heís asking lawmakers to move forward with a short-term deal as they continue working on a longer-term solution.

He says if the cuts arenít averted, the military, middle-class families and the economy could suffer.

In the Republican address, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says the U.S. must ramp up domestic energy production by streamlining regulations, investing in research and approving the Keystone XL pipeline.